Rev. Dr. Dwight Riddick, Sr.

Dr. Dwight Riddick, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia graduated in 1982 from Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, where he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. In 1991, he received the Masters of Divinity Degree from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia. In 2005, he earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree and the School of Divinity’s Leadership Award from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Riddick has also earned a second doctoral degree from the Association of Chicago Theological School (A.C.T.S.) Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program where he was enrolled through Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois where he graduated in May, 2016.

Following a successful, six-year ministry at First Baptist Church, Dendron, Virginia, Dr. Riddick was called to lead Gethsemane Baptist Mission, Newport News, Virginia in 1985. Within the first two years, he meticulously led Gethsemane Baptist Church in building a 20,000 Sq. Ft. Worship and education center. In 2011, he led the church in constructing its second building, the Transformation Place. Gethsemane Baptist Mission, starting with only 200 disciples, has developed into a congregation well over 2,000.

Dr. Riddick founded F.L.A.M.E., Inc., an organization that equips and nurtures pastors. He has distinctively served in numerous positions including President of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia and member of the Board of Trustees for Virginia Union University. Additionally, he was nominated for the Daily Press Newspaper’s Citizen Award in 2001 and received the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Award in 2012. Dr. Riddick is certainly a voice for our time that challenges preachers to broaden their world-view and creative implementation of the preached gospel as encouraged like only he can in his first published book “Does Preaching Have A Future, A Call to Join the Conversation.”

Reverend Dr. Dwight Riddick and his lovely, wife, Vera, are the proud parents of a son, Reverend Dwight Riddick, Jr. and his wife, Jenell, and daughter, Tiffany Foreman and her husband, Mitchell. They are the proud grandparents of five lovely grandchildren: Dwight (III), Amber, Jasmine, Rhyan and Tyler.